YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 15, No. 38
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Community rallies behind sick infant by Aly Brown
September 22, 2017
From Farm Fresh To Table
Staff Writer
Discovery Bay residents Cassie and Rickey Thompson discovered only a few weeks ago that their 9-month-old daughter has a rare form of cancer, and their extended family has set up a GoFundMe page to garner community support. The couple took their daughter, Averie, to her pediatrician for a check up, Sept. 7. The doctor noticed her head was growing larger than normal and ordered a CT scan. It was then they found two masses in her head, some in her chest and more in her stomach. The baby was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma, a disease that accounts for 7 to 10 percent of childhood cancers. “Of course, we’re in shock,” Cassie said. “She started chemo on Sunday.” Averie is considered an intermediate case, which has a better prognosis and is more curable. The plan is to give her chemotherapy treatments every three weeks, assess the tumors to see if they are shrinking and visit the option of surgery down the road. Cassie’s aunt, Noelle Charles-Merrill, has set up a GoFundMe page, requesting the community’s help in supporting the family. The goal of $40,000 will help cover the unexpected medical costs and time taken off work by the parents who together work three jobs to make ends meet. So far, the community has rapidly answered the call, nearly reaching half the goal with $16,000.
Attraversiamo, Brentwood’s newest farm-friendly restaurant is open for business. Page 10
Tunnels Take Another Hit
Photo courtesy of Cassie Thompson
Averie Thompson is a 9-month-old baby from Discovery Bay who was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma. Her family has set up a GoFundMe page to help offset the unexpected medical costs and loss of income. Charles-Merrill is passionately dedicated to helping her neice and family. And as a fifth generation East County native, her faith in the community in which she was raised is high. “When they asked Mother Teresa how to
make world peace, she said to go home and love your family – we can do that for one another,” she said. “Right now, we have a family in our
Delta Tunnels opponents file third lawsuit in ongoing effort to stop project. Page 19
Patriots Blast Past Vikings
see Sick page 30
Women helping women by Aly Brown Staff Writer
Photo courtesy of Kari Cross
Leaders of the Discovery Bay Women’s Club have created a platform for local women to share ideas and network. From left; Rita Caruso, Elyssa Bugnatto, Hailey Cross and Kari Cross.
What started as a handful of women hopping on a conference call to motivate each other in the morning has morphed into the Discovery Bay Women’s Club. Real estate agent Kari Cross was accustomed to getting up at 2 a.m. with her husband before he left for work, but once he was out the door, she found she had trouble getting much accomplished before 8 a.m. “I thought that the way to become more accountable was to get other women to become more ac-
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countable with me,” she said. She asked 10 ladies who also were in the real-estate industry if they would accept a challenge. Every day for 30 days, they would get on a conference call at 5 a.m. to discuss business practices, life and so much more. “We talked about the big ‘why’ and morning routines. What was amazing to me was how much I learned from them,” Kari said. “Sometimes, people would cry, because there was a great amount of in-depth reflection.” see Women page 30
Droning On
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Highway 4 commuter project proceeding with help of new drone technology.
Heritage starts slow but finishes big in homecoming win against Edison Vikings. Page 21 Calendar................................31 Classifieds............................27 Cop Logs................................29 Entertainment.....................10 Food........................................11 Health & Beauty....................7 Milestones............................15 Opinion..................................20 Pets.........................................18 Sports.....................................21
West Nile Alert
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County, local officials remind residents the West Nile Virus is still around.